Sequence control mechanism



Feb. 1, 1949. E. HALL 2,460,693

SEQUENCE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward L. Hal I INVENTOR..

' TENT ATTORNEY Feb. 1, 1949. E. HALL 2,460,693

SEQUENCE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 13, 194.7 2 SheetsSh-eet 2 Edward L. Hall v INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 1, 1949 omen STATES ATENT F FICE The present invention relates generally to con trol' means and more particularly to improved;

arrangements 'and'inechanisnis for the selectively controlled operation of a plurality of devidesi ina predetermined sequence by a single control means.

It is frequently desirable that several related devices or instruinntalities' be operated selec may at different times in a prearranged sequence aiid in which th'stting of one or more of the deviees may be overridden; In such instances'i't'is also advantageous; particularly in the operation of aircraft, that the" mechanism. for accomplishing these operati'o'nsbe made as simple and foolfiioof as possible, that it preferably be. operated by single manual control means and:

tfia t it be automatic andirreversible in} its action in order to prevent disturbance of the positions to which the several. devices have: bee'nset; The resent invention relates to improvements-in such" overriding and sequence mechanism by which the s'el'ective and. sequential operation of plurality of movable members having a definite interrelationship; is simply and expeditiously accom'-. plished by an improved means; This invention is particularly adapted to those installation, such.

as in the cold air intake system fora carburetor, where it is desirable to provide an intake gate or valve which is normally opened by the initial" movement of a control member and a sec'orui auxiliary gat' which is operable through the second Stage of the movement ()f the coritror member Without further movement of t-H first gate. A further arrangement is that which 11 6i? lizesa norn'ially open col-d air'intake door t'vh h is closed" through the iiiit'ial m'ove'n'i'ent ens a secondary doo'r" (such te t's frequency advisedin aircraft to draw air i'z'lir'o''irgli a titer or" iron withinthe cdwime to offset icing conditions) opened by the further movement of the control member;

It is accordingly a major obj e'ctl" of the ie-seat 2 vision of a unitary overriding" and seduenee mechanism which is automatically and positively locked in certain of itsposition's to provide me: ve'rsibility 0f the Cdrihe'titd (lIJeIEitillg m chanism and the devices which are operated thereby;

It is a further object to provide an overriding and sequence rneclianisirr of the type described provided with guide slotshaving improved con tours by which back pressiii'on the mechanism cannot effect adisplaee'ment of any orite parts. It' is also an object to provide a unitary ine'chanism of the type described which can be readily installed and connected to th respectivdvics' to be operated: with a positive actioii and'ina ie-'- dete'rm'ined sequence. A further object resides-iii the provision of an improvedarrangeinent in the application of the present overriding and se:

quence mechanism to the air intake system of an engine carburetor.

Other forms and advantages of the present in in Figs. 1 and 2, with both tfie friain and auxiliary gates opened; I

Fig". 4 is anenlarged' sid e elvational view ofthe' unitary overriding and sequence r'r'iechanisimy Fig. 5 is an end elevati'onal View of the meant: nism of Fig. 4; and r I Fig; 6 is an expiocieii view drone ofth'e sit-ding pins shown in the mechanism ofFigs; 4" and 5; as taken at 6'--6 in Fig.4.

Referring now to rigs.- 1, 2 and 3, the militia" it! indicates the fresh airinta kelduct such 'as'ma'y be used in conjunction with the carburetorof a'n aircraft engine. The duet is provided" with a screened inain air intake or I" which prefr ably facesforwardly the direction in which the aircraft travels, in order to be zniiiresed to the airstream. The main inlet bortion of theduct is controlled by a main gate or butterfly valve 12 suitably mounted upon the adjacent structure for pivotation about its mid-portion.

To the rear of the duct to, there ispreferably provided an auxiliary or emergency intake i3} ivh'icli'i's controlled by the pivotallytmounted gate.

or flap valve I4. In this duct installation it is possible to provide an air intake gate I2 which can be opened by the initial movement of a control member E in the cockpit of the airplane, and

, the further auxiliary air intake gate I4 which is operable through the second stage of the movement of the same control member I5 in the airplane cockpit. It will be understood, however, that the improved overriding and the sequence mechanism of the present invention, while particularly adapted to the operation of the air in-. take gates shown, is equally applicable to the operation of other devices.

The control lever I5 is pivotally mounted in the cockpit of the aircraft convenient to the operator or pilot for rotation about the axis of the pivot I6, and for movement along the control segment or quadrant I'I, fixedly supported from'the aircraft structure. To the control lever I5, there is pivotally connected a push-pull operating rod l8,

which is pivotally attached at'its other terminal I9, to an arm of a lost motion lever 2! pivotally mounted upon the aircraft structure. A further push-pull rod is connected to the pivot I9 connecting the rod I8 with the arm of thelever 2|, and the opposite terminal of the push-pull rod 20 is connected to the overriding and sequence mechanism unit 22, V

Referring now moreparticularly to the details of the overriding and sequence mechanism shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,.this unit is preferably comprised ofa pair of spaced channel elements 23 and; 24,,in a back-to-back relationship with a' plurality of spacing bolts and washers 25 attached to the separated webs of the respective channel sections; are each provided with upper curved. cam guide slots 26 and lower guide slots '2'I- of somewhat to be sinusoidahorof;S-shape in curvature, with" the upper-slots 26 slightly flatterflor straighter thanthelower slots 21. The lower slots extend generally in a horizontal direction, or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel supports,

starting to curve slightly downwardly from the 1,.

beginning position of the pin at the right hand ends of the slots, swinging upwardly past their mid-portions and then downwardly again toward their. terminal positions at theopposite ends.

a The push-pull operatingrod 23' is providedwith an apertured and bifurcated clevis terminal 32 throughwhich the pin bolt 23 is adapted to be passed. The diameter of the pin bolt 23 is such that the shouldered washers 3! are adapted to fit freely thereupon and to have their shouldered portions engaged within the upper slots 23 in the channels 23 and 24. The washers 3| are rotatable upon the pin 28 and engage the channels 23 and 24. from the outside, while the clevis terminal 32 of the operating push-pull rod 23 is arranged to slidingly fit freely between the webs of the. channels. The pin bolt 28 is suitably threaded to receive the nut 33 which backs up the washer 3I on thefar side of the mechanism andthis nut is suitably wired through. apertures The webs of the channels 23 and 23.

in the nut and the bolt to lock the same securely together. The clevis terminal 32 is adapted to embrace the bar link which is apertured at its upper and lower terminals to receive'the pin bolt assemblies 28 and 29, respectively. The lower pin bolt 29 issimilarly arranged to slide within the cam slots 21 and is similarly attached to a like clevis terminal mounted upon the end of the pushpull rod 34; It will accordingly be noted that pressure exerted upon the rod 23 toward the overriding mechanism 22 will cause the pin 28 to move downwardly and forwardly within the initial portion of the cam slots 26, and the link 30 will serve to maintain the spacing between the centers of the pin bolts 28 and 29 by causing the latter to move forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, moving the rod 34 in the same direction.

This push-pull rod 34 is pivotally connected at its forward terminal to the lower arm of the bell crank 35 which is pivotallymounted upon the aircraft structure. The upper arm of the bell crank 35 is pivotally connected directly to the vertical link .35, which in turn is pivotally connected to the outer terminal of the operating lever 31 for the main control gate I2. Unlike the lost motion lever 2'! for the auxiliary gate I4, the bell crank 35 does not have a lost motion slot corresponding to the slot 38 in'the lever 2|, but the link 36 is directly. pivoted thereto. Themain control gate I2 is accordingly adapted to be rotated throughsomewhat less than a right angle as the lower pin 29 moves from the rear position shown in Fig. 1 to theforward position shown in Fig. 2; and as the upper pin bolt 28 is ,con-

- tinued to the end of the slots 26, the link 3|! is rotated about the axis. of the lower pin 29, which remains in the same position "and accordingly no further rotational movement is translated to the main control gate I2 during this half of the forward movement of th lever I5.

The lost motion lever 2I pivotally connected at I9 to the push-pul1 rods I8 and 20 is pivotally mounted for rotation upon the aircraft structure and is provided in its upper portion with the lost .T motion slot 38 arcuately formed with respect to the lever. pivot. A link 39 having a pinportion at its lower terminal engageable with the lost motion slot 38 is pivotally connected at its upper terminal to the outer extremityof a further lever 40.; This lever 40 isconnected to the pivotfor the auxiliary control gate Min such manner that its rotation, by vertical movement of the link 39, causes similar movement of the auxiliary gate I4. The outer extremity of the lever arm Gil-has connected to it a tension spring M, which isanchored to fixed structure at its opposite terminal, and continually urgesthe lever 40 and the attached gate I4 into the closed position of the auxiliary. intake I3.

The operation of the overriding and sequence mechanism of the present invention is as follows. Referring again to Fig. 1, it will benoted that both themain inlet II and the auxiliary inlet I3 are closed by the control gates I2. and I4, respectively. For this condition of the air intake inlets, the control lever I5 is in its rearmost position with respect to the quadrant II. Assuming now that it is desired to open the main control gate I2 without movement of the auxiliary gate I4, the control lever I5 is moved forwardly about the axis of pivot I6, moving'the push-pull rods I8 and 20 in the same forward direction. During this angular movement of the lever I5, the lost motion lever 2| is correspondingly rotated due to its pivotal connection is with the push-pull rod I8.

aire -sea Inasmuch; however, as the pivotal-connection of meatless the cheating mechanism for the al'ixiiiary control gate W is free tcmevethrough the lo's't motidn slot 3'8' in the lever 2 l-', rid-corresphfiding movement is'iir-nnarted to thelink 39, tilel-eteraoer the semi-m5 gate t e this for ward-movement" of the" control lever f5;

ThisinitiaP forward movement"ofthepushwull rec- 20 causes the attached pm 28 to'niove to the zi'iid 'aortiori-ofthe upper cam slots 25 asshown in Fig. 2, and througii the' medium of the link SDt-he" ietver m- 29 is caused to move forward to the fi d of 't he-"lbwef 51615817. In doing so; however, it=imarts similar forward movement tothe rod 34; causing corresponding rotation of the bell eranlt 35 ,-and thrOi1gh the link 36* imparts retatreats the" lever fi. rmeeanses the main conate I 2 to be rotated into its fully opened position-as shown in Fig. 2. During this portion of'the travel of the" pin bolts ZB -and 29', the interconnecting-link 30- moves forward, Without apiireciable change in the angle of its forward and downward slope from the pin 2 8* to the pin 29". This-angle i'sslig-htly steeper than the initial portion of the upper' slots 26 through-whichthe pin2 '8 is moved forward during the early part ofthi's portion of its movement. The quadrant H maybe suitably marked to indicate the extent to whi'ch the main gate [2 has been opened. In this positionthe mechanism is irreversible and rearward forces upon the rod would? not disturb the position ofthe' pins Z-Fan'difi due to the wedg-' in'gi eife'ct of the upper slots 26;

Let us now assume that the volume of anbe-; in'gJ taken through the main entrance Iii of the duct. with the main control gate P2 in its fully opened position;- is insufficient for the requirements of the carburetor or engine due ossibl'y to the mouth of the duct being clogged with ice, or for other reasons;- and it is desired that this volume of air be augmented by flow through the auxiliary entrance l3; as controlled b'y'the aux iliar'y gate M; This may be" accomplished by fur'-' ther forward movement of thehandleve'r 1'5 about its pivot l6 by which corresponding movement istransmitted to the push-pullrodv lfliwhich rotates the lever '2 I? about its pivot. Since the end of the link" 353* has already reached the end. of the lost motionslot 38; as indicated in Fig. 2; the rota tion of the lever 2:! is now positively transmitted without any lost motion to the link: 39 and the lever 40', and" the auxiliary control gate i4" is caused to be opened against the oppositiozii of: the tension spring 41. During this movement of the lever Wand corresponding rotation of th'levers; 2 l-and dfland thegate i 4; the push pullrod2 fl'causes" continuedforward and upward movement of the pin bolt 28 along the guide tracks 26-; As the guide tracks 26 and 2-1 extend forwardly, they divergein direction'to such an extent that'when the upper pin- 28 reaches the end of the upper slots" the link 30 has been rotated from its rela-y tively-flahinclined attitudes of Fig. 2,; to its sub stantially vertical attitude. shown imFig; 3; In asmuch' as the lower pin. bolt- 29- had already reached the forward end of the slots 21, as shown in Fig. 2,1When the'maingate I2 reached its fully opened position, no further movement is transmitted to the operating mechanism of the main gate I2 and the overriding mechanism 22 accordingly serves" as a lost motion device forthe main control gate during this latter portion of the operating cycle.

It will also be noted that in the; condition of the mechanism 22 as shown in Fig. .3,- any disturbiiig foreee aiiplied -td-{themaincontrol g'ate' I52? are arrested by'the rigid-1y locked condi'tion orthe'pie belt- 29 amine irreversibility of the mechanism; 22; as; rearward forces are tTiu tranSlfi3ltfiZ rar'rit FF during which movementthe lostmotion slot 38 prever'i-ts transmission of rotative forces tdtlfe auxiliary gate M. This correspondingly piii'i'its rotatio'riof the lever 21 while continui the ra'rwardtranslatory or bodily movement" or the lihli' 3 0} with the pins 28 and 2'9 and COn' current rotation arid-closing of the main controlgate fl. 1

Itwill" accordingly be noted thatin ope ing the main gate l2, during which thelink so is translates forwardly with a' bodily movement without any ap reciate degree of rotation, the overriding. 01 lost niotibn feature is provided by theslotali in the lever 21 to' prevent application: ofmhvihg'forcesto theauxiliary gate l5; In the course 01?" the last half of'the further forward movement; however, during which the main gate I 2 remains in its opened position opening} forces are" applied' only to the auxiliary gate [4 th' overriding or'los't motion feature is provided? bythe divergence inthe guide slots ZS'aIid' Hand the" ability ofth'e link 30? to rotate. about the pin bolt 29, without transmitting further forward movementzto the push-"pull roar 3d and the oper fihgmchanisrhfor the main gate l 2'.

While the operating mechanism comprising the piesente invention has been shown and described as? afiplied'itothe' main and auxiliary inletsfor at carburetor azir system, it will be understood that it will equally be adaptedfor use with other de'- viceswhicliare requireli to be operated in accordancewith' a prescribed sequence. It will be ob vi'ous thatthe control means f5 may be eliminated under certain: circumstances andthe' end of the rodtl 8 graspedian'd' iised 'as asfiniple manual push pull control; The devices actuatedalso may be other: than theerotative type and can be'ot'her' in strumentaiities than valves or gates; Other forms andmodifica'tion's' of the present invention, both with respect-tons general" arrangement and the detailsof: itsnrespective' parts, which willocc'ur' to those skilled inthe artafterrea'ding th'epre'sent description; are all intended to come within the scopean'd spirit: of this invention as more ear: ticularl'y 'definecrinitheappended claims;

Izclaim: 1'; A1 combinedlosttmotion and sequence" de: vice comprising a: su rniortirigv member; a sfir'st long curved guide slot associated with said sup- V porting 111611113811; shorter second: curved guide slot associated with saidmer'nber' spaced from V 7 7 ing; an initial portion; only'of saidguided terminal movement and forzthe remaining portionof said uided terminal movement said control forces are overridden-by rotation of said link means and members. a a

-2..,Unitary means for controlling the overriding and sequence of operation'of two controlled-devicesacomprising a pair of non-parallel curved guides-of different lengths, guided elements arranged for movement along said guides, av link interconnecting said guided elements, and operat ing mechanism, for individually connecting said devices with said respective guided elements, the curvature and relationshiptof said guides arranged insuch manner that control forces applied to afirst, of said guided elements causes movementthereof which is positively trans-- 'mitted to said second'guided element through an initial'portion only of the movement of said first guided element and for theremainingportion of said movement said forces are overridden by-rotationof said link and are-not transmitted to said guided element. 7 V I 3, Unitary overriding and sequence control mechanism: comprising axpair of non-parallel curved-guides of different lengths divergingly disposed, a guided element movable along the longer of "said guides a second guided element movable alongthe second said guide, means linking said guided; elements, the curvature and relationship I of--said guides arranged for applying control forces torsaidifirstlguided element for positive transmission through said linking means to said second guided element during the initial portion only of the movement of said first guided -element, and further movement of said first guided element imparting rotation to said linking means about the guided portion of said second guided element, the curvature of said uides also being arranged in such manner as to prevent reversely directed forces applied to said second guided element from imparting movement through said mechanism to said first'guided element.

'4. -An overriding and sequence mechanism for use in an operating system comprising a 'plate member, curved guide means associated with said :plate member, said guide means having at least'twonon-parallel diverging portions of different lengths,:link ,means having its terminals' adapted vfor guided movements within said respective guide-portions, actuating means consaid forces are not transmitted to said operating nected to one of said terminals for the controlled for regulating "the movement of a pair of devices connected to a single control means comprising operating mechanism extending from the control means to a first of saiddevi-ces, saidoperating mechanism including a lost motion means, further operating mechanism interconnecting said first operating mechanism with the second device, said further operating mechanism includ ing a lost emotion means, and overriding means associated with said first operating'mechanism for the operation of said first device pon initial movement of saidcontrohmeans duringwhich operation the second said lost motion meanspre Vents operation of said second device,.and -further movement of said control means causes overriding and implementation of thefirst said.

lost motion means to prevent further movement of said first device while the second said lost motion means is thereby made inefiective and said second device is operated by said further;

porting element, a relatively shorter curvedslot.

in said supporting element divergingly disposed with'respect to said first slot, linksmeans having one terminal adapted for guided movement within the first of said slots and its other terminal guided for movement within the other said slot, actuating means connected to one of said link terminals, operating means connected to the other said link terminal, the curvature and rela-v tionship'of said slots arranged in such manner that for an initial portion of the movement of said actuating and link means said actuating movement is transmitted from said actuating means to said operating means and for the remaining portion of said movement. said forces are overridden by rotation of said link means and are not transmitted to said operating means.

'7. overriding and sequence mechanism for regulating the movement of the main and auxiliary gates of a carburetor air intake system connected to a single control means comprising op erating mechanism extending from the, control means to the main :intake gate of the system,-

said operating -mechanism including a lost ,-motion means, further operating mechanism interconnecting said first operating mechanism with the auxiliary intake gate of said system, said 'further operating mechanism including a further lost motion means, and overriding means in cluding a pair of curved diverging'ly disposed guide slots associated with said first operating mechanism for the operation of said main, intake gate upon initial movement by said control means during which operation thesecond said lost motion means prevents the operation; of said auxiliary intake gategand 'further movement of said control means causes overriding and imple mentation of the first said lost motion means to prevent further movement of said main intake gate while the sec-0nd said lost motion means is thereby made effective and said auxiliary intake gate is operated by said further movement of the control means.

' 8. Means for controlling the overriding and sequential operation of the main and auxiliary intake'gates of a carburetor air supply system comprising a pair of non-parallel guides, divergingly disposed curved guided elements arranged for movement along said guides, a link interconnecting said guided elements, and operating mechanism for individually connecting said main and auxiliary intake gates Withsaid respective guided elements, the curvature and relationship of said guides arranged in such manner that control forces applied to a first oisaid guided,

elements causes movement thereof which is positively transmitted to said second guided'element through an initial portiononly of themovernent of said first guided element and causes the concurrent application of control forces to the oper- 9 ating mechanisms for both said main and aux- REFERENCES CITED iliary intake gates, the relationship of said guides The following references are of record in the further being such that continued movement of said first guided element imparts overriding rome of thls patent tation to said link and. the application of con- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS trol forces to the operating mechanism for said Number Name Date auxiliary intake gate only- 972,689 Gillespie Oct, 11, 1 1 1,776,867 Woolson June 24, 1930 EDWARD HALL- 2,320,259 Brassell May 25, 1943 2,361,810 Bazley Oct. 31, 1944 

